Selected quad for the lemma: nation_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
nation_n	earth_n	people_n	praise_v	6,597	5	10.8382	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A33531	English-law, or, A summary survey of the houshold of God on earth and that both before and under the law, and that both of Moses and the Lord Jesus : historically opening the purity and apostacy of believers in the successions of ages, to this present : together with an essay of Christian government under the regiment of our Lord and King, the one immortal, invisible, infinite, eternal, universal prince, the Prince of Peace, Emmanuel.	Cock, Charles George.	1651 (1651)	Wing C4789; ESTC R37185	322,702	228

English-Law OR A Summary Survey of the Houshold of God on Earth And that both before and under the Law And that both of Moses and the Lord Jesus Historically opening the Purity and Apostacy of Believers in the Successions of Ages to this present Together with an Essay of Christian Government Under the Regiment of our Lord and King the one Immortal Invisible Infinite Eternal Universal Prince the Prince of Peace Emmanuel Isaiah 1. 24 25 26 27 28. Ah I will ease me of my enemies and avenge me of mine Adversaries I will turn my hand upon thee and purge thy dross and take away thy Tinne And I will restore thy Judges as at the first and thy Councellors as at the beginning afterwards thou shalt be called the City of Righteousness the faithful City Zion shall be redeemed with Judgement they that return of her with Righteousness The destruction of the Transgressors and of the sinners shall be together and they that forsake the Lord shall be consumed Isai 2. 3. and 5. Come ye let us go up to the Mountain of the Lord c. and 5. Come let us walk in the light of the Lord. Only by faith ● G. sculp London Printed by Robert White for T. G. and Francis Tyton and are to be sold at the Three Daggers neer the Inner-Temple-Gate 1651. To the Family of God over the whole Earth but more especially to them of the Houshold of Faith in the Commonwealth of England ALL who hold the Christian Faith do beleeve that as the world had a beginning and was a created substance so it shall perish and come to an end or be changed we seem not only to be on the last foot of time in this our Generation but having stood 1650. years upon it we have many thoughts of heart-longings for the glorious appearing of the Son of God Many expect him visibly to raign here on Earth in person and that he shall be glorified even where he was crucified Others look for a Kingdome of Righteousness a wonderful light of Truth to be manifested glorious out-breaking glympses and appearances of the infinite wisdom the brightness and evidence of which shall scatter all those clouds and dispell all those Exhalations which have mis-led us in the walkings of Christianity the false Prophets Clouds without rain and Fires without heat which have appeared amongst us A people in this Nation hath had as great testimonies of this as any people extant on the Earth The Power of the Almighty hath visibly appeared here these many years scattering of Truths and revealing hard sayings and giving to understand things that were hid for many Generations though according to the wisdom of the Father he hath dispensed divers gifts and that there is much of controversie among us yet if all be really for Christ and the increase of his Kingdom what matters it Let but all this move and incourage each in his place faithfully to labour in the Vineyard of the Lord. The Master is expected how he will come le ts not wrangle about nor with whom Let 's all high and low as we profess to expect his coming so prepare for it Assuredly he will then come to us in his glory or take us to his glory Therefore all you that in sincerity profess Christianity rowze up your selves listen to the call of the Lord He hath call'd afar off in Germany he hath call'd at home both here and in England and Scotland hear his voyce prepare to meet the Lord your glory Hitherto Christians have been the shame of Christianity and Gospellers the scandal of the Gospel There was a fatall and general Apostacy faln upon her who called her self the Spouse of Christ she as Aholah Aholibah played the Harlot and though she here with us in England promised to return yet she kept her Darlings still if she parted with the Assyrian Adulterer she kept the Syrian God will have no mixture with Idols England hath long desired a thorow Reformation Let no man boggle at the work if another desires more then as some of you did 20. or 30. years since why may not God have revealed this to him and closed thine eyes now as well as he revealed his will formerly to thee and shut the eyes of others Heretofore God put mean men only upon the work here and there one now he hath put many and great men upon the work and what ever spurs they have yet Christian if they drive on Gods design lay thy hand on thy mouth and only admire how God brings things to pass what he intends Some men are so rational they can see nothing of providence reason devours Religion and they are afraid lest they should happily find or be found of God in a way they expected not they wholly trust to reason and will see and feel or they will not beleeve Others are meerly sensual and in the muddiness of their temper follow sense only because reason is so various as many opinions as men even in things not above us This is the main basis of Atheisme shun this Scylla and that Charybdis and understand All Gods wayes are not only prudential but providential and God assuredly speaks both ways He that improves providence to Lust Error and Transgression against the evident revealed will of God is like him that because he hears of Election sins at liberty which is a mark of Rejection He that in doubtful things in streights for God his glory his Truth and Laws the purity of Righteousness in simplicity eyes God with constant and fervent prayers walking humbly and watchfully over himself and all that partake with him spying what leads and misleads and searching all interests casts all away all but that of the Lord and his Righteousness Surely he is like him that hearing of Election and not knowing who it is yet beleeving not only the truth of it but blessings appertaining to it saith I will seek if happily I may find I will knock because of the promise and such are assured to enter life eternal Now all you that have in your eye the expectation of the glorious appearance of the Lord Christ in your several stations Parliament Princes and Nobles Army Judges Officers Magistrates Rich men Citizens high and low Rich and poor one with another despise not my weakness inability unworthiness eye not my life past or present but look to what I say and as you find it bearing the mark and character of fervent truth accept it if you doubt labor satisfaction privately if you spy an error rebuke or inform me with Christian wisdom and sobriety my zeal for Gods cause not self-confidence hath put me forth to the work and I shall willingly learn and bless-God that makes me know his will yea though by my failings so it may work to the encrease of his glory and propagation of truth Amen So be it And first give me leave to speak a word to you that have at present the Supremacy of Power

otherwise He that will rule let him be servant be not like the Princes of the world but yet this as most cohering with naturall reason and the custome of Princes and that the decree might be fulfilled was accepted by the Princes of the earth and now the Crozier and the Crown went together in England for the Princes were generally zealous of the Law after once admitted it may be politickly but I judge not although that from the power of the Romanes here so long ruling there was a foundation laid of good and just Laws and holding much consonancy with the Judicials of Moses yet the many barbarous and irrational customes and usages especially those that were unchristian were by the Kings with the consent of their people abolished and extinguished and there was one generall Law received which was That nothing was to be done taken or holden for Law which was contrary to the Law of Almighty God meaning the Law of Moses which they took to be the speciall Rule of Morall Wisdom and if once sanctiated by the Bishop undenyable if not infallible and though it is like as in all other Ages and places the alterations of old and long received Laws and introduction of new was difficult and dangerous yet this Age being a warring Age and Souldiers little book learned and yet the Princes of the earth the vulgar people were far less so that the many followed the mighty and obedience was more pure then then now though more easie to be corrupted so that the Kings beleeved the Bishops the Lords the King and the people the Lords and thus it was that whole Nations even on a sudden became professors of Christ I say not Christians and though the Monks of Bangor would not seeing the pride of Augustine submit to him yet the King converted power effected what prayer would not but this bred a worse stir after for these Monks still living in their simplicity and preaching faithfully requiring nothing but being contented with what the people gave were more pleasing to the people then they who were not only imperious and proud but covetous also so called in requiring and enforcing Tythes according to the Mosaical Law and this was tryal enough for generally men love to be of that Religion that costs them least Parishes were not yet known they had not in these dayes nor many hundred years after such clear light in Christs Discipline as to finde that civil prudential thing in the book of Religion but men gave who would give their Tythes to the Ministry these in each County or Diocess or Precinct notwithstanding all learned oppositions of the so called Clergy were treasured in common the Bishop if any were as the High Priest or Priest had his portion or Tythes out of the whole and the Pope was to have his Tyth afterward called Annate or yearly Offering from him besides first fruits paid originally by every Minister or Monk for they then generally were the Ministers though not only to the Bishop upon his introduction and the Bishop to the Pope all pretending s●…ill after the pattern of the Jewish Church So also was it in their Courts by way of gradation admitting appeals and that at last to the Pope himself which though upon the first ground each Prince ought to have allowed yet some Princes finding the evils in time by alienating the hearts of their Subjects from them subjugating purse and person to a stranger for so high these Popes at last went other Princes spying the rents in other mens Dominions avoided it in their own so that they either never allowed or sought to avoid if before admitted such appeals upon this nevertheless at length sprung up controversies not only between the Pope and other Princes but also between the Princes of the Earth in the respective Nations of the world and the Bishops both also using the same arguments of duty and allegiance the Pope by reason of being the Vicar of Christ the King the same the difference was the one was in Spirituals the other in Temporals this hath made the Bishops not only combine against their Soveraign for the Popes Cause but even the people for some pretending conscience have served the Popes and Bishops lusts against their Soveraign and many times either for necessity or necessitated by superstition against their own as well as the Kings Interest And thus by degrees what the Spirituality as they termed themselves had obtained in other places is granted in England and the marvaile was not so much at what was granted but that no more was when even the Crown it self was holden in homage at last of the Popes Holiness so called And now were the people all fitted to receive even what should be imposed upon them I cannot but observe again that these Ages were very ignorant so that the Church-men for want of others were without scruple commonly if not generally admitted the Seats of Judicature in the ordinary Law Courts of the Kingdome and were the prime men of the Kings Councel so that there was nought to hinder but only the pride and power of some warlike Noblemen who in emulation still opposed the Bishops and as the Age grew more knowing began to stickle against them But now the pride of Rome come as it were to the highest pitch even as all other things have their rises stops and declinings even so had this but that it might not fall alone nor want strong supporters against the pride of Princes which Rome thought would be ready to push at her she drives on a fury in spurring the people to depose their Princes upon her Excommunications the dire effect of which all Christian Nations so called felt more or less though more especially Germany so this our England and truly the people might well be apt enough to it for that most Princes had as their Rights of Prerogative taken from all but their Souldiers whose swords upheld them in their Majesties and so they upheld them in their acquests be they good or bad and from the Priesthood then generally so called whose superstitions should work an awe upon their spirits all that could be called an immunity much more the Rights of a free people and that people should be slaves to their Prince is not found in Reasons Lesson and that any prime Nation in Europe was the Conquest of any of their Kings I read not true it is Castile conquer'd all the rest in Spain so the French were reduced into one so others and so our England the conquer'd yet in length of time enjoying almost like grace with their fellow Subjects but with us in Wales we were made one This caused oft and dangerous tumults wherein still a Priest bare his part but things of long date being incertain we shall now come to look at the last great mutation in this our England and carry along the business of the Commonwealth from the time of William the first sirnamed the Conqueror as principally eying

chargeable this is destroying property in honest English for cutting up young Timber felling young stands underwood and the like with many other wrongs no law no remedy evident or practised Alter but the Law of hanging for Felony and this and a thousand things will the learned make Felony streight if you give but two-fold restitution or servitude for a set time to be by you appointed But especially look to give speedier Law in the proper places to at least the poor or small matters it is necessary to Commissionate some for the speciall Counties and that to determine all suits both in Law and equity the want of this is the main root of growing poverty and that upon Petition without formalities of Bill and Answer Declaration and Plea give a stop to cursory Writes of Error and regulate executions for under Sheriffs and their Officers have need of it if any I love the Reason of our Laws and am as much against Tyranny or pure Arbitrary Government as any man I honor the learned and upright Lawyer and would have vertue learning yea and service in all due Offices should be regarded and rewarded I allow the necessary dependances of inferiours in all ranks upon the supream or absolute powers respectively it is but the unnecessary fruitless or destructive interests that are opposed which every just man will stand for both with life and estate And by you Right Honorable in your prosecutions thereof let no private respect take you off it is not only reason but necessity calls to you for it therefore on in the excellency of strength fear not a clash with any corrupt interests whatsoever onely what is just let it be done justly it is the eminencie of Vertue alone can make your enemies hearts yours though power may conquer their persons By this time it is time to winde up my Clue of History wherein I profess in the presence of God I have to the utmost of my skill and knowledge waved all bitterness and what ever might justly give occasion of offence I yet know some will be taken by men of all tempers I nor no man that will speak truths in such a season of interests can expect to please all if it be hardly possible at any time I shall as God shall enable me go on the assistance of whose gracious Spirit I humbly crave and hold forth what the Law of pure reason agreeable to the divine word hath established to be the Rule for the exercise of Justice and of Righteousness among Christians But some will expect that I should speak one word to our so much pleaded boundaries to Preregative and Rule of Priviledge Magna Charta so called and the Petition of Right more then what hath been said I suppose needless to shew that they respectively in their seasons were but the beginnings of that freedome which the Subjects of those times breathed after they are to us or were before these divisions brake out but the reducing as I may say of speculative or notional Liberty into a way of practicall or real Freedome for what was before only in the breast of the Judge was now in English letters made obvious to each mans sense so that they after pleaded that Letter against any contrary walkings whether in the King or his Officers So that Magna Charta is not pleaded as the utmost due of the English Subject nor the Petition of Right but as those things which are so essentiall in the generalty to any Nation that even the Kings must afford them or they are not just And the Rulers must act accordingly or they are betrayers of Trust And if it be impartially discussed it will appear that the private interest of Princes or the power intrusted for publick benefit abused for self-ends hath been the ground of the principal opposition to Prices for where hath the excess of power or stretching the Law for publick benefit or honor of the Nation or against publick visible offendors been impugned no the lives of many Citizens and the confiscation of their estates not to speak of taxes or restraint of Liberty have been by the generalty praised and allowed though some prudent one might Stoically out of the fore-sight of mis-improving these presidents by evill men disallow such Liberty If a free-spirited understanding Englishman look upon the first Chapter of Magna Charta unless enforced through necessity to make use of any shaft to wound an Adversary yea though it flyes in his own face and wounds him what will he say to it for after the freedome granted to the so called Church the Preface or Assumption on the Kings part is That he having God before his eyes for the salvation of his own soul and the souls of his Predecessors and Successors of his own free will did give and grant c. the Liberties following to be holden of him his Heirs and Successors c. And these Liberties are there called Franchises which intimates the Kings gave them the freedoms there set down now who before had none and let any uninterested man look upon them and he will see they indeed hold a reason of policy but still subservient to the first settlement of the Bastard William there are many notable just things in it and surely such as by which the people were judged before the Charter granted but the people not having ought assured and before the power of the King the interest of Nobles the corruption of Iudges other matters rendring the Law then wholly incertain they sought this to clear up and assure their right as far as might be for Iustice ought to be like as the Elements are by the first intention wholly free Therefore the true understanding wise man saith That he inforces not Magna Charta as the boundary to English Laws or just Freedom or Christian Liberty but as a Catalogue of such immunities as were granted by the Kings to the Subjects formerly according to the then light the Nation had to ask and power to inforce for so they were pleaded by the Grantor many of which are now wholly ceased by time others have been altered some enlarged by subsequent judgements so called and Statutes and it is evident that the English now long and thirst after a rational setled Law in all the parts in the whole body taking the Law of God for the Rule as the Charter-Grantor did though the face of man was the visible Engine to draw the pleasant streams of Liberty out of the Ocean of Royal Power and although that succeeding Princes did never keep the Law wholly yet it was alwayes evident that a noble Prince that sought not himself so much as the glory of the Nation the Acts of such a one were seldom if at all questioned So that to give satisfaction according to the deep and often reiterated Engagements of the Nation it is requisite that some selected impartial honest understanding Religious Patriots be set apart as a Committee wholly to attend the collecting